Buelow Wants Change of Venue

A former Dubuque man accused of killing his girlfriend seeks a change of venue for a new trial granted by the Iowa Supreme Court. In a court filing last week, attorneys for 28 year old Fontae Buelow argued that “from the time charges were first filed in this case in April of 2017, the State’s prosecution of  Buelow has garnered significant public attention and media coverage in Dubuque County — the county where  Buelow is from, the decedent was from, and where the Buelow and Link families still reside.” Authorities said Buelow fatally stabbed his girlfriend, Samantha Link, of Peosta on March 31, 2017. Buelow was convicted by jurors of second-degree murder in January 2018, and he received the mandatory sentence of up to 50 years in prison and must serve at least 35 years before he is eligible for parole. Buelow argued in court that Link stabbed herself, causing her own death. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in December that Buelow is entitled to another trial. The second trial is scheduled for May 25.